Elden Ring: Commander Gaius Location and Strategy Guide
How to Reach Commander Gaius
Commander Gaius is found in a secluded section of the Shadow Keep legacy dungeon, accessible only through the Church District. To reach him, players must navigate a complex path filled with challenging enemies and environmental hazards. Here's a step-by-step guide to finding the path to Commander Gaius:
Head to the Church District in Shadow Keep: The Church District is a labyrinthine area located within Shadow Keep. From the main entrance of the dungeon, proceed through the winding corridors until you reach the large cathedral-like area known as the Church District. Be prepared to face numerous hostile foes, including knights and sorcerers, who guard the passageways.
Locate the Concealed Passage: Within the Church District, look for a hidden staircase behind a set of breakable crates and barrels. This staircase leads down into a lower chamber, where you'll find a narrow tunnel. Follow the tunnel, being cautious of traps and ambushes that may catch you off guard.
Cross the Underground Bridge: After passing through the tunnel, you'll come to a large underground chasm spanned by a narrow bridge. Several enemies may attack you here, attempting to knock you off. Defeat or avoid them to safely cross the bridge.
Reach the Inner Sanctum of Shadow Keep: On the other side of the bridge lies the Inner Sanctum, where Commander Gaius resides. There is a site of grace nearby, allowing you to rest and prepare before facing the boss.
Preparing for the Boss Fight: What You Need
Before facing Commander Gaius, it's essential to prepare your character with the right equipment and strategy. Consider these recommendations to maximize your chances of success:
Upgrade Your Weapons and Armor: Make sure your weapon is fully upgraded for maximum damage output. If you're using a melee weapon, prioritize high attack power and a weapon art that can deal heavy damage or stagger opponents. For ranged players, bring spells or bows with high burst damage potential.
Use Elden Ring Runes to Level Up: Collect as many Elden Ring Runes as you can before the fight and use them to level up. Focus on increasing your Vigor for more health, Endurance for stamina, or Dexterity/Strength for weapon scaling, depending on your build.
Equip Useful Elden Ring Items: Bring consumables that can boost your resistances or healing capabilities. Flask of Crimson Tears should be fully upgraded for maximum healing, and equipping talismans that enhance stamina recovery or reduce damage taken will provide a significant advantage during the fight.
Commander Gaius Boss Fight Strategy
Commander Gaius is a challenging foe who uses both melee and ranged attacks to keep players on their toes. His fighting style involves heavy swings with his greatsword, area-of-effect (AoE) attacks, and occasionally summoning lesser soldiers to aid him in battle. Here's a breakdown of his phases and how to deal with them:
Phase 1: The Initial Encounter
At the beginning of the fight, Commander Gaius wields his greatsword and uses wide swings to target players. He may also throw out the occasional magic blast, so be prepared to dodge or block these attacks.
Stay Mobile: Keep moving to avoid his swings. Use Torrent (the horse mount) to maintain distance and quickly evade his strikes. If fighting on foot, use your dodge rolls effectively to avoid getting hit.
Attack After His Heavy Swings: Gaius has moments of vulnerability after executing a heavy swing. Wait for him to finish his attack animation, then strike quickly. Be cautious not to get greedy with your attacks; strike once or twice, then back away.
Phase 2: Summons and AoE Attacks
Once Gaius's health drops below 50%, he will start summoning spectral soldiers to fight alongside him and perform AoE magic that covers a large area. The spectral soldiers don't deal significant damage but can be a distraction.
Take Out the Summons Quickly: Use area-of-effect spells or attacks to clear out the summoned soldiers. This will allow you to focus back on Gaius without being overwhelmed.
Avoid AoE Spells: Gaius's magic attacks create glowing sigils on the ground that explode after a brief delay. Watch for the signs and move out of the affected area as soon as possible.
Use Torrent to Your Advantage: If you're struggling on foot, mount Torrent to quickly close the gap between you and Gaius after his spells, allowing you to continue the pressure.
Rewards for Defeating Commander Gaius
Upon defeating Commander Gaius, you will be rewarded with a substantial amount of Elden Ring Runes, making this fight a worthwhile endeavor for players looking to level up quickly. In addition to the runes, you'll also receive several valuable Elden Ring Items:
Scadutree Fragments: These fragments are unique to the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC and can be used to upgrade certain pieces of gear or traded for rare items in special shops. Collecting enough of these fragments can unlock powerful enhancements.
Commander's Sigil: This unique talisman grants a boost to physical defense and increases your stamina regeneration rate, making it a useful accessory for many builds. It's especially helpful for players who favor aggressive melee combat.
Gaius's Greatsword: As a boss weapon, this greatsword has unique properties and can be infused with ashes of war for added versatility. It has high base damage and scales well with Strength, making it an excellent choice for players who prefer heavy weaponry.
Conclusion
Commander Gaius is a challenging optional boss in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, but with the right preparation and strategy, he can be defeated. Following this guide will help you find him in the depths of the Shadow Keep legacy dungeon and emerge victorious. The rewards, including Elden Ring Runes and valuable Elden Ring Items, will enhance your character's power and prepare you for the many other challenges awaiting in the Shadow of the Erdtree.